So, I’m watching a special segment on PBS about Arlington National Cemetery and the different wars that are represented there.
World War 1
World War 2
Korean War
Vietnam War
And then, there it was, wars that had been laden with adjectives and I ask myself why?
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
The names just seem to be reducing the magnitude of war by calling them an "operation" like something you go into the hospital and get fixed. And the word Freedom is used for countries with very little freedom and did not ask for it.
I find it so sad that history has literally been set in stone with these names that to me reduce what goes on in war to an advertising soundbite.
Our soldiers deserve so much better and so much more respect than to be remembered as a soldier that fought in one of those "marketed wars" America gave a try at.
I understand, wars are marketed and sold to the public, but these, well...
There the headstones are and each one is etched in stone.
Again, a rant.
Update for clarification
The names of the wars are etched into the headstones.
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom
These words are on the tombstones themselves.
My father's tombstone simply says, Sgt. Korea.